Clamp guide



Jan. 17, 1950 JK. VAN DER SCHUUR 2,494676 CLAMP GUIDE Filed Nov. 26, 1945 A T TORNE'V Patented Jan. 17, 1950 [UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE CI)AMI GUIDE John K. van der Schuur, Oakland, Calf, Al l l i cation November 26, 1945,- S eriai No. 630,866

This invention re1ates" I:o ciamp guides and more particularly to adjustable guides for rope drives for cable reels.

Among the objeots of the invention is to facilitate the application of belt driven power to the rotation of cable and similar ree1s.

Another object is to provide guide means for facilta'oing the bunching and assembling of wires and strands and. tying them into cab1es or bundles.

A further object is to provide such guides that may be asly and cheaply fabricated in 1ght weight material.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses. In the specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation diagrammatically illustrating the application of the invention to a cable reel.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a clamp guide constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 shows a modified means for moving the jaws relative to each other.

In detail the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises the fixed jaw I, having the narrower fiat jaw guide 2 we1ded thereto. The movable jaw 3 has the slot I engaging the guide 2.

The bracket 5 is we1ded to the end of the guide 2 and projects above and below the plane of the guide and limits the lateral movement of the jaw 3.

The spindle 6 is threaded through the bracket 5 that is reinforced at this point by the nut 'I welded to the bracket. The outer end of the spindle has the transverse handle 8 welded thereto. The inner end of the spindle baars against the jaw 3, to adjust it relatively to the fixed jaw I.

This invention has many uses and is particu- 1a.rly adaptable in providing a peripheral guide for a rope drive appiied I;o cable ree1s.

Flexible cables such as 9 are wound on cylindrical reels having wide circu1ar ends such as II). These cab1es whi1e flexible, are often enclosed within 1ead sheaths and are heavy and awkward to handle in winding them upon the ree1s. The cable factories are equipped with power means for rotating the ree1s in winding new cab1es. Bui: it often happens in salvaging used cables it is 3 Claims. (01. 242-117) 2 necessary to rotate the ree1s in fie1d work, by hand 1abor, a tedious and. awkward imdertaking. In layingand salvaging Submarne cab1es, or raising them for inspetion the same problemsre involved. Repair barges and cable ships are equipped with power driven winches available for rotating the cable ree1s, but heretofore no means has been provided for utiiizing such winch power,

or it has been complicated and highly specialized. The present invention isapplicable to any cable reei.to aldapt it to belt drive from any source of rotary power. This invention operates substantial1y as follows: The clamp guides shown in Fig. 2, are placed around the periphery of the reel end I0, as shown in Fig. 1. The jaws I and 3 are straddled over the thiokness of the end I0, with the jaw guide 2 resting snugly on the periphery of the reel end. The spindle 6 is then screwed inwardly against the movable iaw 3 until it binds the reel end Il tightly between the jaws I 3.

The upper portions II, I2, of the jaws and the top of the guide 2, form an open guide to receive the rope or belt drive I3 passing around the periphery of the end II) within these top guides, which prevent its displacement laterally when power is applied.

The rope drive I3 is then wrapped around the winch head or other source of power I4. The bight of the rope I3 then passes around an id1e puiley not shown, that is movable to app1y tension to the rope and cause I: I:o be driven by the winch head I4, to rotate the reel, the desired distance to expose the cable 9 for inspection and tests app1ied in the usual manner.

The invenI-ion resides particularly in the structure and. mode of operation of the o1amp guide and, in combination with the structure with which it cooperates.

These ciamp guides may also be appiied to suitab1e interspaced supports I:o ho1d I;he length of cable in a horizontal position for the desired distance. Or they may be similarly aiigned 1:0 function as guides in holding a number of cabies or strands in assembly for convenient tying or wrapping together.

The modification shown in Fig. 4, is the same general structure wi'oh the jaw I, guide 2 having the longitudinal slot 2x therein, forming the clivded braeket 5:c with the eye bends such as In: therein. The cam 63: is substituted for the spind1e 6, and. bears against the movable jaw 3, to orce it toward the jaw I, when the hand1e 8312 is swung downwardly.

Having thus described this invention and. its

mode of operation whieh I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combnation with a. cable reel having a flat; circular end; a belt guide havng a relatvely thin statonary jaw hearing against the nner face of said reel end and projecting beyond said perphery and havng a flat jaw gude bearing against said periphery and fixed intermedate the length of said statonary j&w a nd havng ts outer end extending angularly and substantaliy parallel with the plane of sad statonary jaw; a movable jaw extending above and below sad periphery and having 2, slot sldable on said jaw gude; and a spindle threaded through the enter end of sad jaw guide and hearing against the outer face of sad movable jaw.

2. In combination with a cable reel having a. flat circular end with a series of removable belt guides nterspaced around ts periphery, eaeh guide having a statonary relatvely thn jaw bearng against the rmer ace of said reel end and projectng beyond said perpbery and having a flat jaw gude fixed intermediatethe length of said statonary jaw and 1ying fiat aganst sad perphery and having its outer end extending angularly to the plane o sad jaw gude; a movab1e jaw extendng above and below the plane of saidperphery in opposed relation to said statonary jaw and havng aslot therethrough sldable on sa.id jaw gude; a spndle threaded through the uter end. of said jaw guide and hearing 4 against said movable jaw, for elamping sad opposed jaws against the thickness of sad circular reel end; and a drven belt. encircling sad end and guded between the projecting ends of sad jaws, for drivng sacl reel.

3. A clamp gude comprsing a fixed jaw having a relatively thin flat. jaw gude projectng laterally therefrom and fixed intermediate e length of said j aw; a movable jaw having a tran s verse slot intermediate its Iength and. slidab'le upon said jaw gude, the upper portions of said jaws forming a U shape rope gude above said jaw gude and the 1ower portons of said jaws formng a jaw clamp beneath sad jaw gude; and means mounted on the projectng end of said jaw guide for movng sa.id movable jaw relative to sa.id fixed ja w and maintaining an equa1 width between said jaw portions of said U shape rope gude and said jaw c1amp.

JOHN K. VAN DER SCHUUR.

REFEREN CES CITED 'Ihe fellowing references are of record in the fi1e of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,330 Box Mar. 9, 1880 843,014 Harris Feb. 5, 1907 2,333,64& Frankel Nov. 9, 1943 

